Baldwin Park's Danny Vega celebrates scoring the winning penalty kick as they play Marshall in their CIF-SS Division 5 boys soccer game at Warren High School in Downey on Friday March 7, 2014. Baldwin Park defeated Marshall 5-4 in penalty kicks after a 0-0 score in regulation. (Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger/San Gabriel Valley Tribune)

Baldwin Park's Danny Vega hoists the championship plaque after defeating Marshall in their CIF-SS Division 5 boys soccer game at Warren High School in Downey on Friday March 7, 2014. Baldwin Park defeated Marshall 5-4 in penalty kicks after a 0-0 score in overtime. (Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger/San Gabriel Valley Tribune)

DOWNEY >> The action, atmosphere and back-and-forth chances couldn’t have been more entertaining between Baldwin Park and Marshall for the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 boys soccer championship on Friday at Warren High School in Downey.

In the end, though, Baldwin Park had the guy it wanted with the game on the line, striker Danny Vega, who entered with a section-leading 39 goals and a chance to finish off the championship in a dramatic penalty shootout as the final kicker.

Vega didn’t disappoint, burying his final penalty kick and celebrating wildly as Baldwin Park held off Marshall 5-4 in the penalty shootout after a scoreless regulation and two overtimes to win its second championship in four years to improve to 21-4-2.

“My heart stopped a couple times walking up,” said Vega, who also won a title as a freshman. “I wanted this for our team, for our fans, for everyone. It feels so great to finish like this, the feeling is unbelievable.”

After Marshall’s Geraldo Rangel and Baldwin Park’s Andy Castillo buried penalties to make it 1-1, Marshall goalkeeper Alfredo Guerra made what turned out to be the game-winning save, blocking Marshall’s Ivan Pacheco to go up 2-1 after two rounds.

Baldwin Park was perfect in penalties, with Regy Antunez and Daniel Penate also making their PKs before Vega’s final goal.

But it was Guerra who turned out clutch with the only save in PKs.

“Throughout the penalties I was picking one side,” Guerra said. “I saw their forward (Pacheco) a little shaky and I just held my ground and reacted to the ball. I just went with my gut and thankfully it worked out.”

Baldwin Park nearly went up in the sixth minute when Eduardo Suarez sent a 20-yard rocket off the crossbar.

Marshall had several corner kicks and throw-ins near the Braves box, but the Eagles’ best chance in the first half came on a counter and through ball to Alex Palma down the right side. Palma cut toward the box and sent a shot that forced Guerra to make a punch save.

Marshall’s Andrew Solache was there to clean it up, but he sent his shot sailing over the crossbar in the 28th minute.

With 20 minutes to go in regulation, Marshall’s Diego Gonzalez-Diaz sent a free kick that was headed off the far post. And on the ensuing counter, Baldwin Park got two players behind the defense with Vega ending up with it, but he couldn’t finish.

Jesus Granados missed a chance in regulation to win it for Baldwin Park, and Marshall hit the post again in sudden death.

It was one of those games.

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“Knowing that I could have finished the game (in regulation) if we lost, it would have been heartbreaking,” Granados said. “You have to give it to Marshall, they’re a great team and it was a great game. We both fought hard out there but I thought we wanted it more.”

Marshall (22-3), which knocked off top-seed Corona Santiago 2-1 in the Division 5 semifinals and survived back-to-back penalty-kick shootouts in the second round and quarterfinals, was hoping its third penalty shootout was the charm, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“It went to PKs for a reason,” Marshall coach Dino Barbiera said. “It was pretty even, we took control of the first half possession wise and the second half they had more possession and we had the counter.

“It was a great game, it was entertaining. It’s tough, our players are hurting right now but they’ll get over it. They have to realize they accomplished a lot and they should be proud of themselves. I’m proud of them.”